Facts

We Believe ...

Racism hurts us all. It weakens the mind, sickens the spirit and wounds the heart. Moving Beyond Racism requires the courage to change what is, the vision to see what is yet to be, and the will to make that vision a reality. Action is born in awareness, anchored in faith and sustained in community.

Mission

Our mission is to bring together people from diverse traditions and differing ethnicities for the purpose of moving beyond racism. Through examination of personal experience and social institutions, our intention is to build deeper understandings, construct supportive relationships and create realistic strategies for change.

History

We have been working in the field since 1998. We hoped to experience multiracial relationships, learn to recognize and address racist incidents, understand systemic/institutional racism and skills necessary to create change. Along the way, we have developed allies, experienced healing, and have felt and fostered acceptance. Our program has not deviated far from this path; however, it has expanded in rich ways to embrace ongoing community events that complement our mission.

Programs and Activities

• Building Community Program: A program based on the beliefs above and designed to realize our mission statement.
• Prayer Vigils: Following a homicide (usually the day after) an interfaith prayer vigil is held at noon at the site where the homicide took place.
• Remembrance Ceremony: An annual event to honor those who perished during the Middle Passage takes place on the second Saturday in June on the shoreline of Durand Eastman Park.
• Book Group: Reading and discussion held at 7:00 PM the first Monday of each month (except December) at Barnes and Noble in Pittsford Plaza in their Community Room on the second floor.
• Community Workshops: "Race, Recruitment, Retention" presented at Monroe Community College (MCC), to students, staff, faculty and administrators.

Building Community Program

• Opening Retreat. Designed to help participants break down racial barriers. In an atmosphere that is caring and supportive, yet challenging, participants examine the ways that racial identity affects everyday life. Reflective journaling, videos, one-to-one dialogues, small-group discussions and interactive large-group presentations all help the participants gain new perspectives. Trust is built as personal stories are shared. Honest and sometimes painful, these experiences create meaningful insights and lasting connections. Though not affiliated with any religious denomination, a strong spiritual foundation supports the work and helps to sustain it.
• Study Sessions. Undertake an in-depth examination of specific aspects of racism. Areas of interest are elicited from the group at the opening retreat. Past subjects have included: racial identity formation, historical overview of racism in the United States, institutional racism (housing, employment, education, health care, criminal justice, etc.), white privilege and raising children to be racism-free.
• Small Groups. Facilitated by trained Moving Beyond Racism members, participants explore topics they identify as important to grappling with and understanding racism. These groups of six to eight people usually meet in participants' homes. This informal setting and intimate group size produces deeper levels of communication.
• Closing Retreat. This event ties together the previous experiences. Difference is celebrated with music, food, poetry and prayer. Each participant is asked to make a personal commitment to continue his or her work.